Cleaning devices



Dec- 4, 1962 P. s. VOSBIKIAN E1- AL 3,066,347

CLEANING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 2, 1961 F6 fer Y WA4/1% ATTORNEY De@ 4, 1962 P. s. vosBlKlAN ET Ax. 3,066,347

CLEANING DEVICES Filed May 2, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ollice 3,066,347 Patented Dec. 4, 1962 3,066,347 CLEANING DEVICES Peter S. Vosbikian, Melrose, and Thomas S. Vosbikian, Philadelphia, Pa. (20th and Oxford St., Philadelphia, Pa.) Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,172 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-568) In many industries, the workmen have a problem in maintaining their hands in a clean condition so that they can properly grasp a working tool or machine controls, and after completion of the work removing from the hands the dirt, grime, grease or oil adhering thereto.

It is now customary to use 4for such purpose a harsh soap or one containing grit, sand or other abrasive material, or to use detergents or interlaced metal strand containing a soap material all of which irritate the skin and leave it in a roughened condition. When such materials are used for cleaning basins, sinks, tubs or toilets having an enamelled surface, such surface is often roughened or pitted due to the harsh abrasing action of such material.

The object of our invention is to devise a cleaner in pad form which is not subject to the foregoing defects.

We have found after numerous experiments that, if a mild soap, preferably in cake form, is retained in a container formed of a plastic sheet of material having an irregular arrangement of honeycomb formation with closely spaced cells or holes with the walls of the holes connected by flexible and resilient strands, the soap suds will pass slowly through the holes and due to the flexibility and resiliency of the exposed surface of the plastic the suds will be worked into crevices in the skin with a slight abrading action and dirt, grease, oil or other foreign matter will be effectively removed and leave the hands in a soft, smooth and unroughened condition.

If a slower passage of suds through the holes is desired, an absorbent liner may lbe used with or Without holes.

We have also found that if the plastic is cut longitudinally or laterally of the sheet that the holes will be surrounded by short, outstanding and open end strands at the exposed surface, a better cleaning action is obtained.

A further object, therefore, is to combine with such material a mild soap in pad formation, which can be so cheaply manufactured that it can be thrown away when the soap has been used a few times.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, we have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of it which we have found in practice to give satisfactory results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited, except by the scope of the appended claim, to the exact arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

-FIGURE 1 is, in perspective, an exploded view of a cleaner embodying our invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional detail of the cleaner.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional detail of a portion of FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 4 is, in perspective, an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention employing an absorbent liner.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a liner which can be -used Within the container.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another form of liner which can be employed.

FIGURE 7 is `a sectional elevation of the cleaner shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is an expanded detail of a cut, plastic sheet to show the cut strands surrounding the holes.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of the invention with a cake of soap sealed Within the container.

FIGURE l0 is a top plan view partly broken away 0f FIGURE 9.

FIGURE ll is a sectional elevation of another embodiment with a liner.

FIGURE 1 2 is an end View prior to sealing.

FIGURE I3 shows a fastener in detached position.

Similarwnumerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

Referring first to FIGURES l to 3, a sheet of plastic 1 is folded upon itself and opposite side marginal portions secured together in any desired manner, and as shown by a line of stitching 2 to form an open ended container into which a cake of mild soap 3 is inserted and the end sealed by stitching 4. Instead of stitching, marginal portion can be heat sealed, glued or in any other manner.

In FIGURE 4 the container 5 is the saine as the container 1 in FIGURE l, but an absorbent, open ended liner 6 is inserta-ble into the container and receives the cake of soap 7, and the open ends of the liner and of the container are sealed by heat welding, gluing or stitching.

The use of an absorbent liner such as for example cellulose or sponge latex material slows up the passage of soap suds to the holes in the container and such passage can be controlled by the number of holes used in the liner. In FIGURE 5 holes 8 are in the sides of a liner 9, and in FIGURE 6 a greater number of holes 10 are in the liner 11.

The holes in the container vary in shape and Size. A portion of the plastic sheet is shown in FIGURE 8 on an enlarged scale and schematically to show Athe holes or cells 13 and the short, outstanding cut strands 14 surround ing them.

In FIGURE 7 the line of stitching 12 is shown.

In FIGURES 9 and l() the container 15 land soap 16 are the same as in FIGURE 1 but transversely disposed strands 17 are folded upon themselves and stitched at 18 to the closed end portion of the container.

FIGURES ll and 12 are the same construction as FIG- URES 9 and l0 except that a liner 19 is used, the container 20, soap 21 and folds 23 being the same. The open ends of the container and liner if used are closed by wave like fastener 24.

The open ends may be heat sealed yby pressing a heated member against their marginal portions.

The mild soap used is preferably at least ninety percent pure; and when combined with a plastic having the characteristics herein set forth produces a very effective cleaning operation.

When the cleaner after being wet is pressed against a surface to be cleaned, and since the exposed surface surrounding the cells is of a flexible `and resilient character, the soap suds oozing through the holes will be rubbed against the surface to be cleaned. The short cut strands between and surrounding the holes Will have a slight abrasive action and will enter any crevices in the surface being cleaned.

If the additional transverse strips are employed, a stronger scrubbing action can be obtained.

It is to be understood that if the cellular fabric of the container is cut, the exposed `surface will be as shown in FIGURE 8 with the short cut strands surrounding the -cells and with the cells connected by flexible resilient strands, While, if the fabric is not cut, the exposed surface Will be formed by flexible and resilient strands connected with adjacent Walls of the cells.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure' by Letters Patent is:

A cleaning device, comprising a sheet of plastic having closely associated holes through it throughout it-s area; said sheet being folded upon itself with the folds at opposite sides sealed together to form a container with an open end; said sheet having short strands extending from the edges of the holes, said device being adapted to contain a mild soap Within said container; and folded strips having the same characteristics as the sheet being secured at their folds to an end of the container, said device when wet and applied to a surface to be cleaned causing soap suds to pass through the holes and be applied to the surface being cleaned by the abrasive action of said short strands.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,611 Bailey Nov. 22, 1921 2,829,392 Dupuy Apr. 8, 1958 2,846,708 Vosbikian et al. Aug. 12, 1958 2,899,780 Bottino Aug. 18, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 111,330 Canada Apr. 14, 1908 

